Xbox SmartGlass support starts this autumn

Microsoft has confirmed that every single one of its new games will include support for its new Xbox SmartGlass technology, starting this autumn with Halo 4 and Forza Horizon.

Ascend: New Gods – the killer app for Xbox SmartGlass?

Despite being one of the main focuses of Microsoft’s pre-E3 media briefing last week the exact details of when and where Xbox SmartGlass would be supported were left a little vague. But according to Microsoft’s Phil Spencer the technology will start appearing this autumn and will be used in every Microsoft-published title from then on.

The idea behind Xbox SmartGlass is to introduce cross compatibility between the Xbox 360 and not just Windows Phone devices but also iOS and Android. This essentially turns smartphones and tablets into a second touchscreen display for Xbox 360 games, allowing for gameplay and information displays not dissimilar to the Wii U GamePad.

‘It just makes so much sense for a developer who wants to supply, maybe not time-critical information, like ‘that enemy is getting ready to shoot you,’ but information that augments what’s happening on screen,’ Spencer told website Joystiq .

‘And then you’re even going to see situations like with Ascend: New Gods, where there’s actually gameplay that happens on the phone, even when you’re away from your television and that interacts back with the online game that’s happening. So I think you’ll see information sharing, context sharing while you’re in the room, with video and with games, as well as gameplay happening in more distributed environments.’

Apart from Xbox Live Arcade game Ascend: New Gods he doesn’t actually mention any games by name, but Halo 4 was already used to demonstrate the technology, with stats being tracked on a tablet and in-game trivia unlocked as you reached certain points in the game.

The tablet also made you aware when a friend wanted to play you in multiplayer, with a virtual button appearing to let you play them instantly.

There was no SmartGlass demo for Forza Horizon, but since it’s Microsoft’s other big first party title for this Christmas we assume that will be supported as well. Whether this will also include Kinect titles such as Fable: The Journey though we’re not so sure.Video:Check out the Xbox SmartGlass demonstration